Play Global! and Battle at the Castle to be partners in baseball

Battle at the Castle Baseball is proud to announce a partnership with Play Global!. The US-based non-profit organisation will enter the Dutch baseball fields through a partnership with the 2018 Battle at the Castle Tournament. Money raised at the tournament will be donated to Play Global! to fund their programs abroad.

The Battle at the Castle tournament and the Play Global! organisation share the vision on developing the – we and us thoughts despite our differences – kids through the game of baseball. “Every year it is a special moment when the kids get their baseball jerseys for the tournament. One moment they are strangers to each other, the next they are instant friends just because they have the same team name on their chest. Our players register individually and are drafted into teams that only exist at the Battle at the Castle tournament. But it creates a sense of belonging for each individual and it increases their network. Big steps are made in that single week of everyday baseball. And we want to help Play Global! with their programs with a minimum donation of 1% of the total tournament turnover. We will also play with Play Global! logos on the left chest of the tournament jerseys to raise awareness. The connection is baseball.” Paul Bun adds.

Play Global! is a nonprofit organization that teaches baseball to coaches and youth in developing countries and areas of conflict. They use baseball as a way to help kids see past their differences, respect others, and play as a team. Since baseball is new to their participants, they all start as beginners. They learn and work together. Play Global! strives to create sustainable baseball programs led by coaches in their home countries. Play Global! has recent or ongoing programs in Uganda, Ukraine, Israel, South Africa, India, and Kyrgyzstan. Check out this video about Play Global’s work:

One of the Battle at the Castle managers of 2018, Kevin Healy of the Lumberjacks, will travel to Kyrgyzstan after BATC Baseball is done as Camp Director in a remote region with past ethnic conflict.

Tom Gillespie, executive director of Play Global! on the partnership with Battle at the Castle Baseball: “Play Global! is proud to be associated with BATC Baseball, and very appreciative of the support and exposure this provides our organization and the work our volunteers do. It is especially exciting as BATC and Play Global! will be able to “share” coach Kevin Healy, allowing him to have an impact on young athletes in two very different settings. We wish Battle at the Castle another very successful tournament creating lifetime bonds through teamwork and exposure to different cultures.”